Artwork
The Prodigal Son among the Swine
The Prodigal Son among the Swine is an ink print by the Baroque artist Theodoor van Thulden. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed in black and white, the print captures the biblical moment when the wayward son, reduced to poverty, is found among a herd of pigs.
The 1638 etching *The Prodigal Son among the Swine* was produced by Theodoor van Thulden, a Flemish artist active in Antwerp, Paris, and his native ’s‑Hertogenbosch. Executed in black and white, the print captures the biblical moment when the wayward son, reduced to poverty, is found among a herd of pigs. Van Thulden, better known for altarpieces and mythological scenes, applied his draughtsmanship to this narrative work.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates the climax of the prodigal son parable: a half‑clothed figure lies exhausted on the ground, one arm reaching toward a tree, while swine root nearby. The composition emphasizes the son’s humiliation and desperation, underscoring the moral contrast between his former wealth and current destitution, and inviting contemplation of repentance and redemption.
Technique & Style
Van Thulden employed traditional etching, incising lines into a copper plate with acid to produce deep, expressive strokes. The print’s rough, heavily bitten lines create stark contrasts between the dark figures and the swirling cloud‑filled sky, lending the scene a dramatic immediacy. The handling of light and shadow, combined with a loose, almost sketch‑like quality, heightens the sense of urgency and emotional tension.
History & Provenance
Created in 1638, the work reflects van Thulden’s mid‑career period when he was expanding beyond large religious commissions. While the original plate’s whereabouts are unclear, surviving impressions have appeared in European collections, often catalogued alongside his other prints of biblical and allegorical subjects. The etching illustrates the artist’s versatility in both painting and printmaking during the early Baroque era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Theodoor van Thulden (9 August 1606 – 12 July 1669) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver born in 's-Hertogenbosch in the duchy of Brabant.
Allegory of William III's leavetaking from Alamia van Solms after the transferral of the regency to the statesgeneral
The provinces of Brabant, Hainaut and Flanders pay homage to the Virgin
Allegory of Vanity
The Visitation
Time Reveals the Truth. The Allegory
Allegory of the Farewell of William III from Amalia van Solms following the transfer of Regency to the States General
Benedictus van Thulden, prieur de l'abbé de Saint-Bernard
The Resurrected Christ Appearing to his Mother
